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I had a voicemail yesterday requesting a quote and called back within a few hours. I generally try to return calls ASAP, but I was trying to beat the rainclouds that were forming.

"I JUST moved in and I'm looking for someone to maintain the lawn and hedges", he said.

Anyway, I stopped to look today and will be starting tomorrow.
As an added bonus, he's just one street away from a cluster of 7 that I already service and I was looking to add one or two more on that day.

I asked where he got my info and he said "Craigslist".
I haven't run my ad in at least a month - apparently having keywords is a good idea because my ad still pops up when people do searches.

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Yesterday I cut one of my weekly regulars and sent a text letting her know it had been cut.
She was upset. "Please call before cutting. it was another dry week and I wasn't expecting you to cut."

WTF? It's been raining at least once a week for the last few Weeks and all my lawns are growing well now.
I did call her first during the worst part of the drought, but I guess she expects me to call to see if she wants cut every week now. Ain't happening.
Gonna let her know that she is responsible for contacting me ahead of time if she doesn't want it cut.
This is the second thing that she did that shows me she's more concerned with cost than anything.

On the other end of the spectrum is a client nearby that I cut "as needed".
This is the only account I do this way - her grass simply doesn't grow.
Anyway, it had been 4 Weeks, and I cut it yesterday.
She said, "it's been a while, just let me know how much extra you'd like for your trouble."

Amazing.

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I cant stand the cheap @ss people. Oh it doesnt need it this week. Come back next week when its twice as tall and will look like sh!t when its done. I really only want this done every 2 weeks. It drives me crazy. I cant wait untill I have enough of a client base to weed some of mine out. I dont have too many idiots but a couple are pain in the @ss that way. Oh its going to be how much?? Well thats kind of high, well go buy a mower then and do it yourself. Knobs. I have some that are just like do it every week send me a bill and thats it. I love that.

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Heh. I still haven't gotten to talk to her about it. At this point, I don't care much if I do. The only reason I'd like to at least get a confirmation that she doesn't want to use me (or does) is that she left the good review on Angies List. I don't want her posting a bad review.

That said, I just did a hedge job for someone who found me trough Angies List.
"Wow! Those hedges have never looked so good!"

Said she's giving me a good review and will be calling me back for other work.

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I picked up a new client today DESPITE my price being $15/cut MORE than another quote he received.

I went to look. Nicer home with a lawn large enough to justify using my walk behind. The lawn itself isn't nice - just a mix of grass/weeds. Basic amount of trimming for the most part, BUT there is a long, STEEP hill along the road in the front. The hillside stumped me when it came time to figure out a price. I figure I can mow about half way up it with a mower, but the rest will likely need cut with a string trimmer.

I called and gave a quote of $65. (taking into consideration that he wants biweekly service)
"That's a bit higher than I expected, could you come down on that price any?" he asked.

I explained that the hillside was what has the price so high - that there's a lot of trimming work to be done as well as the danger of working on such a slope to factor in.

He stated that the guy who cuts his neighbor's lawn quoted him $50, but "I haven't heard back from him in weeks".
(yeah, because he doesn't want to mess with that friggin' hillside)

I did finally comment that if after cutting, I found that I had quoted too high, I'd be willing to adjust the price. (I know it's a business, but I'm not out to rip people off)
I also explained that with the lawn needing cut the way it does now (it's been 3 weeks), I would normally charge extra for the first cut anyway, so the $65 would be the price for the first cut regardless.

"When can you start?"

I could have dropped my price to assure getting the job.
I didn't, and I got it anyway.

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A few days ago I got an email asking if I work in "X" area of the city and if I'm taking any new clients this late in the season.
"We just moved in and thought we could care for the lawn ourselves, but both of us work and, we can't seem to find time."

I had to ask for an address for the quote and the reply was awesome - it's directly across the street from someone I already service on that street! What are the odds?!!!

I went to look today and sent my quote via email.
Tiny, tiny lawn that will likely take around 20 minutes total.
I quoted $30 weekly, or $35 biweekly.

I got it.

Again, I could have priced it lower to assure that I got it. I WANTED it - who wouldn't? It's right next to a current account... but I priced it at the rate I wanted to be paid, not what I thought may assure me the job.

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Hedge,
I want to say kudos to you. We both joined and started about the same time last year. I got distracted by some other stuff and slowed down on marketing, now I am way behind where I intended to be. You worked your plan and have grown quickly.

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I haven't been keeping this updated the way I used to but there are two noteworthy things to add.

1. Picked up a new client via my reviews/listing on Angie's list.

Actually, I picked up TWO new clients recently via Angie's List!

(a) The first was about a month ago. I did a mow and small leaf cleanup.
I'm going to do another leaf cleanup later this week and it looks like I'll be doing the mowing, and hedge trimming there next season as well. It's a condo association, which is a bit different for me. Thus far, I've only worked for homeowners with a few rental properties mixed in. This is the first property of this nature (large building with multiple tenants) that I've done.
The person who contacted me left a good review on Angie's List, so I'm off to a good start.

(b) A week ago I was called about doing an estimate for mowing/hedge trimming.
It turns out to be a rental property and is near another job on an existing route. The downside is that the front and back are not connected and I have to go around the corner to the alley to do the back yard.
For this reason, I bumped the price by over $10 more than for a comparably sized yard. I didn't think they would go for it, as most rental owners are tight with the money. I quoted $48 for biweekly service and got it.
PRICE IT at the amount YOU want - NOT what you think the client will pay!

The other thing worth noting is the BONUS I received today from one of my regulars!

I got a $100 bonus along with the $30 payment for the last cut of the season today!

The handwritten note attached read:

Hedge,
Thank you for doing such a good job for me all summer.
Here is a small bonus to express my appreciation.
I'll call you about doing the leaves.
Thanks again,
Client

I nearly fell over when I opened the envelope.
I'll be sending a thank you card.

Comment

I haven't been keeping this updated the way I used to but there are two noteworthy things to add.

1. Picked up a new client via my reviews/listing on Angie's list.

Actually, I picked up TWO new clients recently via Angie's List!

(a) The first was about a month ago. I did a mow and small leaf cleanup.
I'm going to do another leaf cleanup later this week and it looks like I'll be doing the mowing, and hedge trimming there next season as well. It's a condo association, which is a bit different for me. Thus far, I've only worked for homeowners with a few rental properties mixed in. This is the first property of this nature (large building with multiple tenants) that I've done.
The person who contacted me left a good review on Angie's List, so I'm off to a good start.

(b) A week ago I was called about doing an estimate for mowing/hedge trimming.
It turns out to be a rental property and is near another job on an existing route. The downside is that the front and back are not connected and I have to go around the corner to the alley to do the back yard.
For this reason, I bumped the price by over $10 more than for a comparably sized yard. I didn't think they would go for it, as most rental owners are tight with the money. I quoted $48 for biweekly service and got it.
PRICE IT at the amount YOU want - NOT what you think the client will pay!

The other thing worth noting is the BONUS I received today from one of my regulars!

I got a $100 bonus along with the $30 payment for the last cut of the season today!

The handwritten note attached read:

Hedge,
Thank you for doing such a good job for me all summer.
Here is a small bonus to express my appreciation.
I'll call you about doing the leaves.
Thanks again,
Client

I nearly fell over when I opened the envelope.
I'll be sending a thank you card.

Had something similar happen to me, not as big. My business advisor said to send them some flowers or something. I got them a plant, as I remember ehr mentioning a potted plant she had had died****just a thought